Filling machine



March 15, 1960 LA R ET AL 2,928,438

FILLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 19, 1956 s Sheets-Shet 1 INVENTORS Rae Theodore laP/er BY Dara/d Ray Frame ATTORNEY March 15, 1960 R. T. LAIPIER ET AL FILLING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 19, 1956 INVENTORS Pae Theodore laP/er BY Dara/d Ray Frame ATTORNEY R. T. LA PIER ET AL FILLING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 15, 1960 Filed Oct. 19, 1956 INVENTORS Rae Theodore LaP/er Daro/d Ray frame ATTORNEY 2,92s,4ss

FILLING MACHINE Rae Theodore La Pier, Overland Park, and Darold Ray Frame. Kansas City, Karts, assignors to Colgate-Palmolive tlompany, New Yorlr, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Application ()ctober 19, 1956, Serial No. 616,984

7 @lalms. (Cl. 141-450) This invention relates to an improvementin machines .for automatically filling containers with particulate products. More particularly the invention relates to a filling machine having an assembly of improved filling tubes.

it hase been known to construct filling machines in which containers are continuously moved under circularly disposed rotating filling tubes afiixed to andcommunicating with a product supply chamber or reservoir.

It is also known to utilize conveyor belts and elevating and descending tracks to move the containers to be filled into a telescopic relationship with the rotating filler tubes and to withdraw them therefrom. In some machines the individual filling tube is intended to enlength so as to maintain contact with the container bottom. Alternatively, to change fill volume the track height has been adjusted without changing the tube, reliance being placed on the functioning of the particulate material as a bottom or seal for the filling tube and on the "supposed constancy in the amount of material filled below and outside the tube, at any certain track height.

The present invention provides a simple, economical, commercially useful way to secure accurate positively determined volume of fill of particulate materials. The filling tubes automatically adjust to the proper length to form a bottomed container with the inner surface of the container bottom, and, because the fill volume is positively determined, the present machine is more accurate than those which depend on indirect regulation of volume. Because the filling tubes are self-adjusting to contact with the inner bottom faces of the containers to be filled the machine will not jam or be strained when an occasional can is encountered having a bottom higher than standard. Neither will it be necessary to allow clearance between can bottom and filling tube end (which causes less accurate filling) to avoid damage to the machine'or can due to such an occurrence. In addition the present invention renders unnecessary the precision adjustment of height or" the means for positioning containers so as to just maintain bottom contact between container and filling tube without straining either. Most important, when means are provided for changing fill volume by raising or lowering containers to be filled it is not necessary to employ new tubes or reset tube lengths at each such change and, as a consequence, little or no production time is lost, when volume of fill is adjusted.

In accordance with the present invention, in a filling 'rn'achine having a vertical measurin'guube and :means for placing a succession of containers to be filled in telescoping relation with said tube, there isprovided an improvement comprising an auxiliary lower measuring tube Qmou-rited for tree vertical movement on said-measuring tube and adapted to engage the bottoms of containers at all levels within a predetermined range. The'said improvement finds greatest use when, also in accordance with the invention, the means for placing containers is adjustable in height relative to the measuring tube, allowing the changing or volume of measured product.

More particularly the invention is of a machine for filling containers with particulate solid products comprisended upper measuring tube communicating at its upper endwith said reservoir, an open ended lower measur-' ing tube mounted for free vertical movement on and communicating with the upper measuring tube with its lowerend adapted to extend beyond the lower end of the upper measuring tube, means for bringing a container to be filled with said product into telescoping relationship with said measuring tubes with the bottom of said container engaging the lower end of said lower .measuring tube, said means being adjustable in height relative to said upper measuring tube, means for filling said measuring tubes level full from said reservoir while the lower tube engages thebottom of the container, and

means for hereafter separating said containerfrom said measuring tubes, whereby the controlled volume of the product in saidtubes flows into said container.

The structure, function and further advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiment for carrying out the best mode now contemplated, taken in conjunction with 'the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a partially cutaway front elevation of? an automatic filling machine;

Fig. 2 is a partially sectioned vplan view of the filling machine;

Fig. 3 is a section view of the fillingmachinealong the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a partially sectioned partial'cutaway side ole-- vation of the novel combination filling tubes of this'invention telescoped with a container to be filled.

Numeral Ilil denotes a rotating product supply reser voir adapted to contain particulate material 11 to be measured into end use bottomed containers 12 via upper filling tubes 23 and lower filling tubes 14. Conveyor 1S delivers empty containers to guide means for aligning the containers and, synchronizing their movements with the rotation of the filling .tubes. The containers travel up the elevating portion, 17 of a track 16 Whereon Theypass predetermined volume of particulate material and then proceed via descending track section 19 to conveyor 15 from whence they are conducted to capping'and packing machinery (not shown).

The'upper and lower filling tubes 13 and 14, their corelationship and position when filling a container are shown clearly in Fig. 4. Upper tube 13 is open ended and, when installed on product supply reservoir 10, communicated at its upper end with the interior of the reservoir through the floor Zll thereof. These tubes may be of any suitable cross-sectional design but will usually be cylindrical as shown in the drawings. Lower or auxiliary filling tube 14 telescopes with tube 13. A small but sufficient clearance 21 is provided to allow free longitudinal reciprocation of the lower tube. The lower tube is biased downwardly by its own weight or by other biasing means, e.g., additional weights, springs. The lowermost point of descent of the lower filling tube is limited so thatthe said tube will not become disengaged from the upper tube nor ride so low as to collide with empty containers approaching the elevating portion 17 of track 16. In the illustrated embodiment of the filling tubes two lugs 22 are screwed at their innerjends Patented Mar. 15, 19 0 7 mg a product reservoir, a downwardly extending open ..relative to upper measuring tube 13 (or reservoir Of course this is so only when the container bottom can engage the lower edge of the lowermeasuring tube.

In the illustrated automatic filling machine the product 1 supply means includes the rotatable flat cylindrical prod- ,duct supply reservoir 10, which has a vertical cylindrical wall 28 surrounding the circular perforated bottom plate or floor plate in which the holes 29 are evenly spaced near the circumference. with the reservoir through these holes 29 whose diameters may either be the same as the outside diameters of the upper filling tubes which extend up through the holes flush with the upper surface of floor plate 20, or the same as the inner diameters of the upper filling tubes which are aligned therewith. In either case the-tubes are suitablyjoined to the'plate, e.g., by welding, bolts,

or the'like. V

'The product supply reservoir and all other parts of the machine are supported by framework 39, portions of which serve as a housing 31. Crossmember 32'supports bearing 33, which in turn supports shaft collar 34 attached to shaft 35. Shaft 35 is affixed to reservoir floor 20. To avoid obfuscation of the elements of Fig. 1 this support system for the rotatable product supply reservoir has been omitted in that figure. Motor 36 connects to star wheel driveshaft 38 through speed changer 37.

- The rotation of shaft 38 is transmitted via spur gears 39 and 40, sprocket 41, chain 42 and sprocket 43 to shaft 35 so that product reservoir 10 rotates clockwise as seen from above at the desired speed.

Productfsupply reservoir 10 is equipped with a sta-' tionary cover 44 supported by the frame 36 (intermediate supporting structure not shown). Through the central portion of the cover'passes product supply pipe 45. Under the. supply pipe is a pair of fixed curved baffles 46 to aid in distributing the particulate material 11 evenly. over reservoir bottom 20. Additional batlles may be employed to further improve'product flow. It has been found that greater accuracy of filling volume can be obtained when the height of the product in the reservoir is even throughout and of relatively constant height. To regulate the height of particulate material in the reservoir there is provided a feed control mechanism comprisinga normally upright paddle member 47 secured to a paddle arm 48, both of which are defiectable from the vertical by the force of moving powder pressing against the paddle. The paddle arm 48 is adapted to open a valve in an air linewhen the product level rises too high, thereby causing the closing of pneu-' matically controlled valve 49, and preventing influx of powder to the reservoir. correspondingly, when the product level falls the pneumatically controlled valve will The upper tubes communicate 28 and having vertical flutes 59 isattached to reservoir and the bottoms 26 of containers 12 are not always in contact with the lower edges 24 of lower filling tubes 14. This scraping or sweeping action of partition 50 re vents unmeasured pre-filling and post-filling of containers, when not in bottom contact with the filling tubes, and

' also assures levelfilling of the container of certain height .formed by the. measuring tubes and the container bottom when the container 'is on the horizontal track.

'A' continuous belt conveyor 15 moves empty contair'iers betweenrails 53 to star wheel 54 which advances them to elevating. portion 17 of track 16. The same belt 15 also serves to withdraw filled containers taken ,ofi the descent section 19 of track 16 by star' wheel 55 and then passing between rails 56. Alternatively individual belts can beused to supply and remove con tainers. Belt 15 is driven in the direction of the arrow 7 by motor 36 through speed changer 37 and the mechanical linkage shown between said changer and driving wheel 57. Star wheel 55 is similarly driven by motor 36. It will be noted thatthe speeds of product reservoir 1t conveyor belt 15 and star wheels 54, 55 are in a fixed proportion because they are all dependent upon the motor speed and speed changer setting which latter is controlled by turning handwheel 68. i A cylindrical member 58 coaxial with reservoir wall bottom 29 and, consequently, also rotates in a fixed relationship with star wheels 54, 55. The flutes or concave portions 59 are shaped to accommodate the cylindrical walls of the containers to be filled. Thus, when star wheel 54 removes a container from conveyor 15, slides it across table surface 60 between the star points and curved rail portion 61, and onto track 16 the container is held upright on the track 16 (here the elevating portion thereof 17) by the flutes 59 and a rail 62,'which confine it laterally, allowing only vertical movement.

. The flutes 59 are so aligned with the filling tubes that I vertically along track portion 19.. Star wheel 55 then be opened. The difierential'can be set very narrowly,

allowing great accuracy in regulating product head. The

, paddle, arm and valve can be adapted to allow a conwall 28, forming a compartment 52.: Noclearance is allowed between partition 50 and the reservoir floor plate 20. Thus, the partition acts as a scraper preventing the entrance of particulate product into compartment 52,

a that section under which the track .16 is not horizontal aszthe containers go up the elevating track 17 they are telescoped with the filling tubes. Due to the, controlled movement of the containers each telescopes with its filling tube without misalignment or damaging of the containers. In the horizontal portion 18 oftrack the containers are held upright by filling tubes 13, 14 and flutes 59 in conjunction with track 18. The lowering of containers along'descending track section 19 corresponds to the above-described ascent. In the descent arail. 63 holds containers against flutes 59 as the containers drop moves filled containers across table surface 60 to the take-01f portion of conveyor 15.

Track 16 is mounted on a number of supporting rods 64 which rest on a. rigid frame 65, schematically illustrated atop adjustable elevating means 66 which means is accurately controlled by movements of handwheel 67. To .varythe volume of fill of containers the track is (raised or lowered, thereby changing the volume of the measuring tubes.

In the drawings certain elements have been omitted so that theprincipal components of the invention can be shown morevclearly. Thus, parts of track guide rail some containers, rear filling tubes, supporting means for reservoir cover, support and part of the drive means for the product supply reservoir and flutes of cylindrical member 53 have not been shown in Fig.1. Various supports .and other structural and mechanical details, not particularly relevant to the present invention, e.g., clutches, dust removers, vacuum lines and connections, container monitors, tamping devices, electrical switches, havenot been illustrated. f

In operation thefilling machine is completely automaticg Containers 12'are carried by conveyor 15 to star 'wheel 54 which moves them one at a time across table 60 and onto elevating portion 17 of track 16. .The individual can is pressedagainst flute 59 of cylindrical member 58 and is held vertical by the flute and rail 62. (The container will remain contiguous with flute 59 until withdrawn from themachine.) While ascendingthe elevating track the 'contaiuertelescopes with lower filling tube 14 and from that point the filling tube moves the container along the track 16. When the container approaches the level portion 18 of track -16 the lower filling tube 14 engages the inside bottom of the container, forming a bottomed -cylinder. The height of this cylinder is reduced as the container is raised to thelevel track porupper filling 'tube *13 is levelled -off' by passage under part ition 50. The containerthen proceeds a'lon'g descending track portion 19 between "fiu'te 59 and rail 63. As the container descends it're'ceives theine'asured contents of 'the measuring tubes. In the descen'tno particulate material feeds into the measuring tubetrorn "the product supply reservoir because the tubes 'at'that=time*are under empty compartment 52.

In the filling of pulverulent materials, -e.g., scouring cleansers comprising mostly very finely divided minerals such as silex or 'diatomaceous earth, the bulk density of the material changes from batch to batch. Because such .;-products are often sold by weight the volume of material filled must be adjusted to avoid overand under-weight production. It is a simple matter to set handwheel 67 "so that a product volume is obtained corresponding to the'specified'weight. This is'done by adjusting that handwheel while the filling machine is operating, until checkweighed containers are of correct Weight.

Because they measure volumetrically only, the present machines are not dependent on maintenance of accurately controlled product flow properties. Thus, powders or other particulate products of varying tackiness, adherence, and fluidity can be filled accurately without changing track height providing that density remains constant or the simple correction for change in density is made.

The present invention has been described in conjunction with drawings of a specific embodiment thereof. .The invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown but, on the contrary, it is obvious that modifications may be made and equivalents substituted without departing from the spirit of the invention or going outside the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for filling containers with particulate solid products comprising a product reservoir, a downfor wit-hdrawing'the container-from the measuring tube,

therebyallowing the supply of measured product to -flow 6 telescoping relationship with -ithe lower measuring a-ube 'so thatithe open lower end of the said lower tube engages the bottom of the container, forming a bottomed combination measuring tube; means for 'adjusting the distance between the bottom'of-the container and the upper measu'ring tube and thereby regulating the measuring volume of the combination of upper and 'lowertubes; means for acompletely filling the combined telescoping measuring 'tubes with product so that the. product level is flush with the upper "end of the upper measuring tube-when the lower'tube' engages the bottom of the container, thereby storming a measure of predetermined volume; and means into the container.

:3.-In amachine for volumetrically filling containers 1 "accurately with :predete'rrnined volumes ofsproductsz a plurality of downwardly directed open ended upper meas :endsxofthe upper measuring't ubes when the lowertubes areengagingthebottoms of the containers, thereby formwardly extending open ended upper measuring tube communicating at its upper end with said reservoir, an open ended lower measuring tube mounted for free vertical movement on and communicating with the upper measuring tube with its lower end adapted to extend beyond the lower end of the upper measuring tube, means for bringing a container to be filled with said product into telescoping relationship with said measuring tubes with the bottom of said container engaging the lower end of said lower measuring tube, forming a bottomed combination measuring tube, said means being adjustable in height relative to said upper measuring tube, means for filling said measuring tubes level full from said reservoir while the lower tube engages the botto'mof the container, and means for thereafter separating said container from said measuring tubes, whereby the controlled volrne of the product in said tubes fiows into said container.

2. In a machine for volumetrically filling containers accurately with predetermined volumes of products; a'j

downwardly directed open ended upper measuring tube; an open ended lower measuring tube telescoping with the upper measuring tube, said lower tube being biased downwardly and freely reciprocatable with respect to the upper tube; means for moving an empty container into external ing measures of predetermined volumes; 'and meanslfor :withdrawing the containers from the measuring tubes, thereby allowingthe supplies of measured product to fiow'iinto .the'containers.

4.111 a machine for "volumetrically ,filling containers accurately "with predetermined ramountsof' finely divided products: a horizontally rotatable product supply reservoir capable of maintaining a constant head or product and having afifixed thereto an assembly of a plurality of circularly disposed downwardly directed open ended upper measuring tubes; an open ended lower measuring tube telescoping with each of said upper tubes, said lower tubes being biased downwardly and freely reciprocatable' with respect to the upper tubes; means for placing empty containers in external telescoping relationship with the" and descending portions, and container guide ,means for moving the containers along the track in synchronism and in alignment with the horizontally rotatablemeasuring tubes; means for raising and lowering the track relative to the upper measuring tubes, thereby allowing adjust.-

5. in a machine for filling containers with particulate products, which machine comprises a downwardly directed open ended measuring tube, means for moving an empty container into external telescoping relationship with the tube so that the lower end of the tube is inside the container, means for adjusting the distance, between the bottom of the container and the top of the tube within a predetermined range and thereby allowing regulation of the volume of fill of the container, means for completely filling the measuring tube with product so that the product level is flush with the upper end of the tube when the tube is within thecontainer, and means for withdrawing the containers from the measuring tubes, thereby allowing the supply of product to flow into the container, that improvement which comprises a combination measuring tube comprised of an open ended upper measuring tube and an open'ended lower measuringtube telescoping with the upper measuring tube, said lower tube be ing biased downwardly and freely reci'procatable with respect to the upper tube, the said'lower tube'being thus adapted to engage the bottom of the container at all levels of adjustment of the distance between the bottom of the container and the upper tube, whereby accurate and adjustable volume of fill is obtained, the volumebeingthat enclosed by the combination measuring tube with the container bottom serving as the bottom of the measuring tube. V

6. A machine for filling containers comprising a source of flowable product to be filled into the containers, a pair of downwardly extending measuring tubes controllably, telescopically slidable 'with respect to, each other and communicable with the source of product to be filled, the lower tube being open ended and closable by. contact with the inside bottom of a container into which it is inserted so that when so closed there is formed a bottomed combination measuring tube of controllable accurate volume, means for placing-a succession of containers to be filled in telescoping relationship about the measuring tube with the bottom of the lower measuring tube contacting the inside bottom of the container, means for adjusting the height to which the container may be 'brought, with respect to the upper measuring tube, in

said telescoping relationship, means for filling the combination measuring tube to a certain, desired height of the upper tube and means for separatingcontainer and measuring tubes after said tubes are'filled with product, whereby a controlled volume of product in the tubes flows into the container. 1 7' 'L'An apparatus for filling containers with flowable product comprisingat least two measuring tubes, includingan u'ppermost tube and a-lowermost tube, the tubes being telescopically slidable ,with respect to each other,

the lowermost tube having an'opening at the bottom thereof closableby contact with the bottom of a conw tainer, inside which container the bottom. of'the lowermost tube is present, so that whenltubejand container are ints'uch 1contact, there is formed a1closed combination measuringtube of controllable volume means for bringing the container intotelescoping relationship about the combination'measuring tube with the opening at the bottom of the lowermost measuring tube closed by contact of the lowermost measuring tube with the inside bottom of the container; means for adjusting the height to which the container may be brought, with'respect to the uppermost measuring tube, in said telescoping relationship; means. for, filling the combination measuring tube to a certain, desired height of the uppermost tube; and means for separating container and combination measuring tube after said tube is filledfl with product; whereby a controlled volume of product in the tube flows into the container.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

